We departed today with mostly sunny skies and the temps to max out at 66. A big difference from the low 80s in Yosemite. A 25 mile drive over to Kings Canyon visitor center was our first stop. The walk to Grant Tree, one of the three largest giant sequoias was just down the street.
Soon we saw them in small groves or alone. Each one with its own character. Sequoias can live up to 3200 years! Scientists figure out age based on formulas developed from ones that have fallen. They are naturally bug, fire and disease resistant.
They need a perfect environment that includes a good amount of moisture, and thrive in this small area of California within 5,000 to 7,500 in elevation. There was a trail around the area featuring the Grant Tree, it took us awhile to find it since many were quite large and impressive. The Grant Tree is 40 feet in diameter, rendering it the largest tree in width in the world. Cool!
However their pine cones are some of the smallest of the forest.
We walked through one that had fallen and had been used in early 1900s to shelter workers and horses in the area. We tried to form a ring of love around this beauty as Rob snapped a photo.
Our way back to the bikes we walked along the Grant Viewing Trail, which took us up onto the hills along a horse path. We had lunch at the Cedar Grant Restaurant. After, Rob planned a scenic ride to King's Canyon. Around the corner and suddenly out of the forest, we were all surprised to see this!
The road was so twisty and scenic. Michele blew through all three of her camera batteries.
It was a nearly 30 mile windy road down the canyon with no outlet. At the bottom were two waterfalls, we parked and walked up a short path to the Roaring River Falls.
The flowing river water had a significant flow with rapids and was also clear to the bottom. The road turned at the end to take us back up. A quick gas stop along the way and we rode the rather chilly route back to our lodge.
Mike and Hui Bok said goodnight, and Tom, Julie, Rob and Michele got a late dinner at the lodge dining room. We talked about great places to travel - Italy, Ireland, Glacier National Park. Rob and Juile went to the stargazing event hoping to be informed as Michele was the night before. A different host was there, he actually was much less of a stargazer and rather a rapids rescuer in Washington State. He knew a lot about bears and described ways they work to teach bears to stay away from humans and food. It involves rubber bullets, tazers, firecrackers and a bear dog! The dog is about 100 pounds and after all the other techniques, it chases the bear away for about a mile, then trots back. Rob said he saw a shooting star and the milky way.
Tomorrow we seek out the largest two sequoias in the world!
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